PET plastics

PET plastic for precision and mechanically loaded components

PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, is an engineering thermoplastic characterised by high mechanical strength, excellent dimensional stability, good wear resistance and favourable sliding properties. This combination of properties makes it suitable for manufacturing precision machine components, structural parts and components where stable dimensions, good machinability and reliable long-term operation are required.
Our range includes PET plastic in various grades, dimensions and semi-finished forms. You can choose from PET sheets, PET rods, PET tubes and other forms, with PET, PET-G and PET-TX materials available. This allows the material to be matched to the requirements of the specific application, subsequent machining and the conditions in which the finished component will operate.

What is PET plastic?

PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, belongs to the family of thermoplastic polyesters. For engineering applications, it is particularly attractive because of its favourable combination of mechanical, physical and tribological properties.
The material offers good chemical resistance and mechanical strength together with very good dimensional stability. It retains good sliding properties and wear resistance even at lower temperatures, making it a useful solution for various applications in mechanical engineering and industrial production.
An important advantage of PET plastic is its low tendency to undergo dimensional changes. This is particularly important when manufacturing precision components whose dimensions and tolerances need to remain as stable as possible.
Thanks to its good machinability, PET semi-finished products can be machined into more complex finished components by milling, turning, drilling and other machining processes.

Main properties of PET plastic

PET plastic combines several properties that make it suitable for demanding industrial applications:

• good mechanical strength,
• excellent dimensional stability,
• good wear resistance,
• good sliding properties,
• good chemical resistance,
• good machinability,
• suitability for manufacturing precision machine components,
• a relatively wide range of applications,
• various shapes and dimensions of semi-finished products.

When selecting a material, the complete application conditions must always be considered, as suitability depends on temperature, mechanical load, contact with chemicals, friction, required tolerances and the operating environment.

PET sheets, rods and tubes

At M&M Intercom, we offer a wide selection of PET semi-finished products, allowing the starting material to be selected according to the geometry of the finished part.
PET sheets are particularly suitable for manufacturing guides, sliding elements, supports, spacers, structural components and other flat or milled parts.
PET rods are often used as semi-finished material for turned components. They can be machined into bushings, rollers, rings, gears, spacers and many other machine components.
PET tubes enable more economical production of hollow or ring-shaped components because, in certain applications, they reduce the amount of material that would otherwise need to be removed when machining solid rod.
A wide range of dimensions, diameters, thicknesses and lengths is available, allowing selection of a semi-finished product that is as close as possible to the final dimensions of the part.

PET-TX for demanding sliding applications

Our range also includes PET-TX, an important choice for applications where sliding and wear properties are a priority.
Such grades are particularly suitable for machine components in which relative movement occurs between surfaces. In these applications, correctly selected engineering material can help reduce wear and provide more stable component performance.
PET-TX is available in our range in various forms, including sheet, rod and tube, so the semi-finished form can be selected according to the geometry of the finished machine part.

PET plastic in the food industry

An important area of application is the food industry. Our range includes PET products declared suitable for food-industry use, with certain grades also compliant with FDA, EU 1935/2004 and EU 10/2011 requirements.
When selecting plastic for food contact, the declared compliance of the specific material or product must be checked; selecting only the polymer type is not sufficient.
PET semi-finished products with the appropriate declared compliance can be used to manufacture various components for equipment and production lines in the food industry, provided their properties meet the requirements of the specific application.

Use of PET plastic in mechanical engineering

Engineering PET plastic is particularly useful in mechanical engineering. It can be used to manufacture various mechanical and structural components, such as:

• gears,
• rollers,
• bushings,
• sliding elements,
• guides,
• spacers,
• supports,
• housings,
• rings,
• precision-machined machine parts.

PET is also used for ball-bearing cages and other components where its mechanical stability, wear resistance and good machinability are advantageous.
The material is therefore suitable both for manufacturing individual replacement parts and for series production of industrial components.

Dimensional stability for precision components

When manufacturing precision machine parts, material strength alone is not sufficient. It is also important how stable the material remains after machining and during use.
The dimensional stability of PET plastic is one of the main reasons for its use in precision components. The material is therefore suitable for applications requiring tight tolerances and repeatable production.
This is particularly important in automated production systems, conveying equipment, packaging lines and other machines where even a small change in component geometry can affect the operation of the entire assembly.

PET plastic and wear resistance

For sliding and moving elements, wear resistance is also important. PET has good sliding properties and wear resistance, making it suitable for many mechanical components exposed to friction during operation.
Correct material selection can contribute to longer component life and more reliable machine operation.
For particularly demanding sliding applications, PET-TX should also be considered and compared with other engineering plastics based on the actual loads, sliding speed, temperature and other operating conditions.

How to choose the right PET plastic?

When selecting PET plastic, we recommend first defining the requirements of the finished part. The most important factors include:
Temperature range: the lowest and highest temperatures to which the component will be exposed must be checked.
Mechanical loads: it is important to determine whether the component will be exposed to static or dynamic loads.
Friction and wear: for sliding elements, the contact surfaces and movement conditions must be assessed.
Dimensions: choosing a suitable sheet, rod or tube can reduce material waste and machining time.
Food contact: for such applications, select a specific grade with the required declared compliance.
Machining method: the final component geometry affects the selection of the optimum shape and dimensions of the semi-finished product.

Wide selection of PET plastic at M&M Intercom

At M&M Intercom, you can choose from a large number of PET plastic grades. Products from Centroplast, MCAM and Zell-Metall are available in a wide range of dimensions.
The range includes PET sheets in different thicknesses, rods in different diameters and tubes with different outer and inner diameters. This allows the material to be selected according to the technical requirements and the desired amount of subsequent machining.
If you are unsure which PET plastic grade is most suitable for your application, we can help you select it with professional technical advice.

 

Frequently asked questions about PET plastic

1. What is PET plastic?
PET plastic is an engineering thermoplastic based on polyethylene terephthalate. It offers good mechanical strength, excellent dimensional stability, good chemical resistance and favourable sliding and wear properties. It is therefore widely used for manufacturing industrial and machine components.
2. What is PET plastic used for?
PET plastic is used primarily in mechanical engineering and industrial production. It can be used to manufacture gears, rollers, bushings, sliding elements, guides, spacers, housings and other precision-machined machine parts.
3. What is the difference between PET and PET-TX plastic?
Standard PET is a versatile engineering plastic with good mechanical strength and dimensional stability. PET-TX is intended primarily for applications where improved sliding or wear properties are important. The final selection should be matched to the loads and operating conditions.
4. Is PET plastic suitable for the food industry?
Our range includes PET semi-finished products declared suitable for the food industry. Certain products also list compliance with FDA, EU 1935/2004 and EU 10/2011. The declaration for the specific product should always be checked before use.
5. In what forms is PET plastic available?
PET plastic is offered primarily as sheets, rods and tubes, while other forms are also available in the range. A wide variety of thicknesses, diameters, lengths and widths is available, allowing selection of the semi-finished product according to the final component geometry.
6. Can PET plastic be machined?
Yes. PET is an engineering material with good machinability and is suitable for turning, milling, drilling and other machining processes. Semi-finished products can also be used to manufacture precise and geometrically complex components.
7. Is PET plastic wear-resistant?
PET has good wear resistance and good sliding properties. It is therefore suitable for many moving and sliding machine components. For more demanding tribological applications, the actual loads and suitability of the specific material grade should be checked.
8. How do we choose the appropriate thickness or diameter of a PET semi-finished product?
The dimension is selected according to the finished dimensions of the component and the machining allowance required. Correct selection of the starting semi-finished product can reduce material waste, shorten machining time and consequently optimise manufacturing costs.
9. Where can I buy PET plastic for industrial use?
At M&M Intercom, we offer a wide selection of PET plastic for industrial use from different manufacturers and in various dimensions and grades. We can advise you on selecting the appropriate material based on temperature, loads, dimensions, machining method and the requirements of the specific application.